Resources for Students: Frequently Asked Questions
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What happens in counseling?
- How do I get started if I want to come to therapy? Can I just send you an e-mail to set up an appointment?
- Is there a fee?
- What is a walk-in visit?
- How do I know if I will benefit from therapy?
- What is group therapy?
- What groups are you offering in the spring?
- What if I am in crisis?
- Is it really confidential?
- Do you provide medication?
- Can I come in and talk to someone about my concerns about a friend?
- I am an international student; do you have services for me?
- Do international students really seek counseling services?
- What additional services are available on campus and in the community?
1. What happens in counseling?
Personal counseling is a chance to talk over what is on your mind with an objective person who can help you learn new skills and ways of looking at situations so that you will be more capable of solving new problems on your own in the future.
Some common concerns confronting students include puzzling distressing feelings, low self confidence, getting along with others, self-defeating behaviors, academic problems, sexual identity concerns, and decision-making dilemmas. The Counseling Services can provide assistance for these concerns through counseling.
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2. How do I get started if I want to come to therapy? Can I just send you an e-mail to set up an appointment?
In order to see a counselor, you should come to the Counseling Center during our walk-in hours (M-F 10:00 – 11:30 and 1:00 – 3:30) and see a counselor on a first-come, first-served basis.
During the walk-in session itself, which normally lasts 15-20 minutes, a counselor will work with you to determine how and where your needs can be best met. You may be referred to an individual counselor, to a group, or referred to another agency on campus or in the community if appropriate.
If you wish, you may download the intake paperwork here, fill it out, and print it out and bring it in with you to your walk-in session.
E-Mail. At the Center we do not use e-mail to initiate therapeutic conversations, as e-mail is not considered confidential. If you provide us with your e-mail address it will be used for scheduling purposes only. Staff members of the Student Counseling Services Center do not use e-mail to communicate confidential information. Further, we cannot guarantee that e-mail messages will be read regularly or within a given period of time. It is especially important to note this in case of an emergency situation. If you have a need to communicate about matters other than scheduling, please contact us either in-person (Counseling Center) or by phone (865-974-2196).
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3. Is there a fee?
Services are free of charge except for a select group of assessment services.
In the summer, UT students not enrolled for summer term but who were enrolled the previous spring term and plan to be enrolled in the fall term are eligible for services if they pay the Student Activities Fee.
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4. What is a walk-in visit?
An walk-in visit is simply an initial visit. The purpose of the walk-in session is to explore the student’s concerns and to make decisions about the type of resources that may be most helpful. If any of our other services are appropriate for you, the walk-in counselor will arrange them. If other University services or resources in the community are needed, the counselor will help identify them. A walk-in session is not a committment to therapy. Some students decide that there needs were met in the initial walk-in session, and some students decide that they are not ready to begin counseling at that time.
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5. How do I know if I will benefit from therapy?
Students come to the Counseling Center for a wide range of problems, including depression, anxiety & stress, relationship problems, low self-esteem, recovery from sexual abuse or sexual assault, substance abuse, eating problems, and many others.
Confiding in friends and using family support can be very helpful. The advantage of speaking with a counselor is that she or he is trained and supervised in working with problems faced by college students, is not personally involved in your life, and can be unbiased in helping you to resolve problems.
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6. What is group therapy?
In group therapy, five to ten people meet face-to-face with one or more trained group therapists and talk about what is troubling them. Members also give feedback to each other by expressing their own feelings about what someone says or does. What makes this situation unique is that it is a closed and safe system. The content of the group sessions is confidential; what members talk about or disclose is not discussed outside the group.
Group therapy, like individual therapy, is intended to assist people who would like to gain support, increase self-awareness, and learn new ways to cope with personal and interpersonal challenges.
Group therapy can be especially effective for people interested in exploring their interpersonal style and enhancing their approach to relationships in areas such as trust, intimacy, anger, conflict, assertiveness, risk taking and improving self-esteem.
To learn more about group therapy, link to Group Therapy: Often the Ideal Assistance - Here's Why...
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7. What groups are you offering this spring?
The Counseling Center is offering several groups this spring. Students interested in joining a group can find out more information and get set up for a group screening appointment by coming in to the Center during our walk-in hours (M-F 10:00 – 11:30 and 1:00 – 3:30).
The General Therapy Group tends to focus on relationships, intimacy, boundaries, self-awareness and other components of interpersonal process. It also provides an opportunity to practice new behaviors within a safe, confidential, and supportive environment where group members learn to interact in a more honest, genuine, and confident manner. This group is beneficial for those with issues of intimacy, depression, anxiety, or those who wish to develop deeper interpersonal relationships.
Bipolar Support Group. This group is for students diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. The group is designed for providing support and education while focusing on therapeutic issues specifically related to adjusting to living with Bipolar Disorder.
Group meets: Fridays from 10am - 11am at the Counseling Center.
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8. What if I am in crisis?
If you are in crisis, and it is during the daytime you should call your therapist at the Center (974-2196) or come in from 8:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m. If you do not have a counselor, you will be asked to complete about 10 minutes of paperwork and then you will be able to see a counselor. The counselor will aid you with any immediate crisis and will help you decide what you need in order to address any ongoing concerns. If you do have a counselor, your counselor will be contacted to determine if he or she is available. If your counselor is not available at that time, you will be seen by another counselor for a crisis appointment.
If an emergency should arise after Center hours, you may go to the emergency room of the UT Medical Center or the nearest local hospital and ask for assistance. Students who are on campus and need transportation may call Campus Police at 974-3114. Mobile Crisis is also available at no charge (539-2409).
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9. Is it really confidential?
Yes. The Center respects your right to confidentiality. Although the Center maintains case files, our records are open only to authorized Center staff. They are not shared with other offices or departments of the University and they do not become part of any central University record. No information, including the fact that you've made an appointment or sought services, is shared with anyone without your written consent. (The parents or guardians of a student under 18 years of age do have legal access to records.)
The Center complies with all applicable laws and professional standards relating to the privacy of patient information. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) does not apply to the Counseling Center. However, many people are concerned about privacy in the health care setting so we are providing this information to you on how we protect the privacy of your health care information.
There are, however, several exceptions to confidentiality as outlined below:
- We are obligated by law to report suspected child abuse (sexual, physical, or emotional) and neglect to the proper authorities.
- We are obligated by law to report suspected elder abuse to the proper authorities.
- We are obligated to take appropriate action if you represent a threat of harm to yourself or to others, and we will take any necessary actions to prevent such harm from occurring.
- If you are involved in court matters, we may be required to release the record.
You have the right to complain or make inquiries if you believe your rights to privacy have been violated. In such an instance, please direct your complaint or inquiry to : Marci Burroughs, Ph.D., Clinical Director, or Victor W. Barr, Ph.D. Director, SCSC, 900 Volunteer Blvd.. Knoxville, TN 37996-4250. (865) 974-2196.
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10. Do you provide medication?
We do not provide medication at the Center; however, we regularly provide referrals for medication evaluation. If your counselor suspects that medical factors may be contributing to your problem or that medications might be helpful in alleviating distressing symptoms you are experiencing, he or she may recommend an evaluation by a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner at the Student Health Center.
The psychiatric provider will meet with you to review your medical and mental health problems, your family history, and your general development. At the end of the evaluation you will discuss the nature of the problem together and discuss treatment options. It will be your decision to accept or decline these recommendations. If it appears that medication would be useful, the provider will discuss with you all that is involved in taking this medication, such as benefits, risks, side effects, medication and dietary restrictions, and alternatives to the medication treatment. Follow-up visits may or may not be recommended.
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11. Can I come in and talk to someone about my concerns about a friend?
Yes. If you have concerns about someone (a friend, classmate, student, etc) you can meet with a counselor and talk about your concerns. The intake counselor will listen to your concerns and help you:
- Assess the situation, its seriousness, and potential for referral.
- Learn about resources, both on- and off-campus, so that you can suggest the most appropriate help available when talking with the student.
- Find the best way to make a referral, if appropriate. Follow this link for more information on Referring a Distressed Student.
- Clarify your own feelings about the student and consider the ways you can be most effective.
For consultation with the Counseling Center, call 974-2196, or come by the Center at 900 Volunteer Blvd during our walk-in hours. Let the receptionist know that you want a consultation.
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12. I am an international student. Do you have services for me?
Yes. The Counseling Center provides free and confidential individual and group counseling services to all enrolled students of UTK. Our staff members are sensitive to the issues facing multicultural and international students. Counseling provides students with the opportunities to explore their concerns within the context of a respectful and confidential relationship.
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13. Do international students really seek counseling services?
Yes. Some multicultural or international students may be hesitant to come to counseling for several reasons. They may be concerned that their problem won't be understood by a counselor or that their problem is not serious enough to merit a counselor's time. They may feel uneasy about the language or cultural barrier, or uncomfortable sharing personal information with a person outside their family. We understand that this can be difficult.
Our mission is to promote your university experience in a way that will enhance your life. It is not necessary be in serious distress to come to the Counseling Center. We are here to assist with all your psychological needs. Your visit with a counselor may occur only once to discuss whatever is on your mind or counseling may extend to multiple sessions for more serious difficulties.
There are many reasons why people seek counseling. For multicultural and international students, the reasons may also include one or more of the following:
- Being away from the family and familiar faces
- Adjusting to social expectations/Anglo-American customs
- Language or cultural barriers
- Communication with professors
- Cross-cultural dating
- Friendships with people of other cultures
- Feeling isolated
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14. What additional services are available on campus and in the community?
Click here for a list of Campus Resources or Community Resources.
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